Well-drilling bit



Jan. 31, 1928.

C. S. CRLCKMER WELL DRILLING BIT Filed Sept. 14. 1925 3 glans-Sheet 1 I Jan. 31, 1928. l,657,60

C. S. CRICKMER WELL DRILLING BIT Filed Sept. 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I amen or 4% 4" 47 i as? fr/bmer Jan. 31, 1928.

c. s. CRICKMER WELL DRILLING BIT Filed Sept.v 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I 1 attain:

Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. CRICKMER, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE G'UIIBERSON CORPORA- 'IION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

WELL-DRILLING BIT.

Application filed September 14, 1925. Serial No. 56.212}

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well drilling bits.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide certainv improvements in the structures set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 36,025 and to add certain other improvements thereover.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for mounting a plurallty of wobbling disks in eccentric relation, whereby in their revolution they will undergo relative radial movement so that drillings lodging between the disks will be displaced radially from the axle thereof, the disks thus being self-cleansing and nonclogging. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of disks and axles and mode of mounting the disks on their axles; whereby the above-stated advantages will be obtained.

Still another ob ect of the invention is to provide a construction and relationship of disks and coacting working parts whereby a minimum number of disks may be employed in the production of a drill of given cutting capacity in which a greaternumber of disks are generally required for the purpose, and whereby a compact type of drill is alsoproduceti.

Still another ob ec of the invention is to provide a drill embodying novel and im proved means for giving greater strength and stability to the drill structure as a whole,

'- and particularly the working portion thereof, and at the same time coacting with the disks for securing a reliable and eflicient mechanical removal of they drillings to pre vent clogging.

Still another obj ct of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of water courses for keeping the disks cool and clear at all points and particularly at the cutting points.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described to gether with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which .an, example of. the invention is shown, and wherein:

. Figure 1 is-a front elevation, partly in transverse section, of a bit constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of the bit stock with one of the cheek platesremoved.

Figure 8 is an enlarged end elevation of one of the axles.

Figure 9 is a side view of the tongue plate.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a bit body or stock having a reduced tapered pin 11 or any other drill stem connection at its upper end. The pin is surrounded by an outwardly directed shoulder 12. The upper portion of the stock is conical although. this is merely a preferred design. The stock has its front and rearvsides converging downwardly and is formed with a transverse vertical and diametrical socket 13, extending at substantially right angles to said sides. The socket has its side walls converging 'upwardly to produce a wedge shape.

The .upper wedge shaped end 14 of a flat tongue 15 is driven into the socket 13. On each side of the stock are provided flat vertical seats 16 having overhanging shoulders 17. Complementary cheek plates or hangers 18 are formed with flat inner faces 19 for con tact with the seats 16. The outer sides or surfaces of the plates are curved to conform to the contour of the stock. The seats 16 have vertical key-waysv 20, which may be dove-tailed or otherwise formed. The plates have vertical keys 21 on their faces 19 shaped to fit in the key-ways.

When the key is slid into the key-way from the bottom the shoulder 17 rests upon the top of the plate and said key, thus taking the upward thrust sustained by said plate. The plates have their faces 19 substantially parallel to the sides of the tongue 15 and spaced therefrom. By observing Figs. 2; 4. 5'and 7 it will be seen that the front and rear sides of the stock and the edgesof the lates are out at such angles-that the lowerearing ends of theplates are in ofiset-relation with respectto a transverse axis p ssing centrally through the tongue.- However-the keys and key-ways are located centrfally of the stock and a single locking pin 23 holds the plates against downward displacement: the keys themselves preventing horizontal displacement.

The manner of fastening the pin 23 is shown in Fig. 5. At one end the pin has a head 24 countersunk in a counter bore 25 in one of the plates 18 (Fig. 3). This head has a wrench socket 26 (Fig. 2) therein. The other end of the pin is reduced and formed with an inclined annular shoulder 27 (Fig. A shouldered nut 28 is countersunk in a counter bore 29 in the other cheek plate. This has a wrench socket 30 and screws on the end of the pin. The inner end of the nut has an internal bevel 31 which rides upon the inclined shoulder 27 and binds the nut. By removing the nut and withdrawing the pin 23 the cheek plates may be removed. The means ofattaching the plates is very satisfactory and tests of the bit in a hole show that the pin does not loosen nor do the plates spread; however any suitable means of fastening the plates may be used.

The plates and tongue support the ends of axles or shafts 32. Each axle is a duplicate of the other and has its outer end 33 engaging in a bearing step 34 in the inner face 19 at the lower end of the adjacent plate 18. At its inner end 35 each axle engages in a slot 36 in the tongue 15. The.

axles are placed relatively side by side and each axle end 35 has a flat side 37 (Figs. 4 and 8). The slot 36 is of such shape and size as to receive the axle ends 35 only when their flat sides are in contact, thus preventing rotation of said axles. However the axles are balanced and counter rotate.

Each axle has formed thereon convexly curved annular bearing collars 38 and 39 respectively, increasing in diameter and stepped in the order enumerated. The particular construction of the axle is im ortant to the result sou ht, viz: that of moving'the disks radially 0 each other as they revolve so as to displace drillings lodging therebetween. By observing Figs. 1, 3 and 4 it will be seen that the collars are disposed in eccentric relation and that the inner end 35 of'each axle is concentric'to the collar 38; while the outer end of the axle is concentric to the collar 39; however this is subject to variation. The ends of the axle being concentric to the adjacent collars 38 and 39 prevent rotation of said axle. The flat sides 37 are cut at such points as to position the axles with the greatest projections of their collars in the horizontal plane of said axles and on the front side with relation to the rotation of the bit stock.

On'each collar 38 is mounted a circular cutter disk 40, and on each collar 39 is mounted a circular cutter disk 41, the inner disks &0 being of like diameter and of less diameter than the disks 41, and the latter being of like diameter with respect to each other; the disks thus being arranged in working pairs on opposite sides of the vertical center of the drill and stepped at the bottom of the drill. Each disk has a central bearing aperture 42 of uniform diameter and of grhater diameter than the greatest diameter of the convexly curved collar on which it is mounted. The inner disk 40 of each axle has a concentric hub boss 43 on its side next to the disk 41, which latter has a concentric hub boss 44: contacting with the boss 43.

The aperture 42 of each disk extends through its boss and the bearing surface of the axle collar on which it turns is struck on a continuous transverse curve or convex arc. Thisfplays an important part in the dominating eature of this invention, which is the wobbling of the disks. It is pointed out that each collar has a bearing face or periphery of somewhat greater Width than the hub of the disk mounted thereon, thus providing for lateral play or movement of each disk independently of the other disk on the same axle and permitting a rocking or oscillating motion, due to the convex curvature of its hearing collar on the axle. Each disk, owing to the clearance between the walls of the aperture 42 and the convex collar on which it is mounted, is free to undergo a relative radial or vertical motion, which tends to amplify its wobbling.

The character of disk mounting which has been pointed out has numerous advantages, such, as that of self-sharpening; ready rolling orrevolution, which means proper traction; rapid cutting in shale and rock formations as well as in soft and viscous formations; and self cleaning. These disks do not need luhri cation as the fluid pumped through the drill stem will keep them clean, cool and free from excessive wear on the axles. The disks used are of comparatively small diameters when contrasted with the disks used on drills of this class. It will be observed that the cutting disks are arranged in pairs, one pair on each side of the vertical center of the drill bit, the adjacent faces of the disks of each pair being spaced apart to a fairly wide degree, so that a gang of four disks will have a wide cutting area. As a result of this wide cutting area and the etiiciencv of cutting action of the disks, a type of drill is provided which has a cutting action approximately' equal to that of drills of ordinary construction in which a gang of six cutting disks is employed, three on each side of the vertical center of the drill, and at the same time a more compact form of drill is produced.

By reason of the eccentric collars the disks are caused to move radially of each other and have those portions lying outwardly of their hub bosses, spaced apart by side bosses. This provides ample clearance between the sides of the disks at their cutting edges and tends to displace, radially, any drillings, rocks or other obstructions lodging between the disks. By having the greatest projections of the collars in the horizontal plane coincident with the axis of the axle, said disks will undergo their greatest relative displacement at substantially the points of contact with the walls of the hole being drilled, so that the cuttings lodging between the disks will be carried away from such points of contact, should they lodge between the disks. x

It is preferable to provide each disk with a flat inner face and form the outer edge of the outer face of each disk with a bevel 46, inclining away from the center of the bit stock and merging into an annular hearing .face 47, the latter being comparatively narrow and forming the cutting edge, its slight width enhancing the wearing qualities and obviating the chipping tendency of a knife edge, until the disk is worn out. The

inclination of the bevel 46 gives the outer face of each disk a generally convex form and induces the disks in revolving to overcome any tendency to excessive outward lateral motion as a result of the centrifugal action due to the rotation of the bit body, while through their stepped order the disks are caused to crown the bottom of the hole and thus counteract any tendency to excessive inward lateral movement of the disks. This combined action together with the wobbling and oscillating of the disks results in a. grinding of the bevels 46, whereby the disks are self-sh'arpening.

The wearing parts are the cheek plates 18, tongue 15, axles 32 and disks. By simply taking out the pin 23 all of the parts referred to may be removed and replaced or renewed.

The forked or bifurcated lower portion of the drill stock, produced by the formation of the socket 13, is provided with prolongations in the form of fingers or projections 48 which extendjdownwardly on opposite sides of the tongue 14 and into the spaces between the opposed faces of the cutting disks of each air. These projections or fingers 48 are su stantially triangular in form, and the lower edges 49 of said projections or fingers are inclined in opposite directions or respectively toward the front and rear sides of the drill. The inner and outer faces of each finger 48 are shaped to conform to the bevel 46 of the outer face of the inner disk and the flat inner face ofthe outer disk of thepair of disks between which it lies. Such faces of the fingers 48 are thus arranged to come in contact with the juxtaposed surfaces of the disks and toexert a wiping action thereontorthe removal from the disks of the grindings adhering thereto. The

efiiciency of this wiping action is greatly increased through the variable movements of the disks, due to their rotation. radial movements and wobbling actions. Through their triangular and inclined form each finger is made to extend well down into the space between the faces of the disks between which it lies. The underside of each finger inclines in one direction and toward one side of the drill and recedes in the opposite direction toward the opposite side of the drill. Thus while a maximum wiping engagement between each finger and the adjacent disks is provided for, ample clearance resulting from the recession of the inclined lower edge of the disk in one direction is ensured. The reverse inclination of theedges 49 of the two triangular fingers 48 is of advantage in causing the accunfnlated deposits removed from the faces of the drills of each working pair to be discharged mainly at opposite sides of the bore, thus further decreasing to a material degree any tendency of the disks to'clog.

A well 50 is bored axially in the pin 11 and stock 10 to a point just above the socket 13. Ducts or courses 51 diverge from the lower portion of the well on each side of said socket. These ducts are provided with flaring mouth portions 52 which extend downwardly through the respective fingers 48 and open at their delivery ends through the inclined edges 49 thereof. Water or other cooling and cleansing fluid may be discharged through these courses against the surfaces of the disk to wash away the cuttings and keep the disks and axles cool. By extending these ducts 0r courses downward through the fingers 48, the streams discharging therefrom will be directed throughout a wide area against the faces of the disks, and, the water being concentrated in the channels formed between the faces of the disks and the inclined edges 49 of the fingers, will be caused to exert a forcible washing action, thus cooling the disks the full distance radially between their hubs and cutting-edges and ensuring the thorough washing out of all cuttin or grindings lodging between the disks an upon the cutting edges thereof. A duct 53 is also formed in the stock and commu- .1

nicates with a central duct 54 extending through the tongue 14 and having a flaring outlet 55 arranged to discharge the cooling and cleansing fluid centrally of the cutters and between the inner rotary cutting disks in the cutting region of the bit. The water discharged from this .duct will accordingly flow over the disks at points adjacent to the advance edges thereof and directly to the points of contact with the substance being bored or drilled, thus further increasing the efficiency of the cleansing and cooling actions.

The parallel arrangement of the axles whereby said axles are ofiset, together-with their disks, on 0 site sides of the transverse axis of the it is important as it gives the disks the proper drag1 and roll necessary to successful boring. T e stepping of the disks makes the drill self-centering. The .curved bearing surfaces of the collars 38 and 39 have a greater area than a circular collar of even diameter, thus providing amplified wearing surfaces.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, a plurality of revoluble disk cutters initially mounted sufficiently loose'in said stock to wobble while revolving, and cleaning fingers carried by the stock and extendin down between adjacent faces of said dis s and spaced sufiiciently from said disks to permit the latter to wobble. I

2. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, disks initially mounted sufficiently loose to wobble upon the stock while revolving, and integral cleaning fingers on the stock extending between adjacent faces of adjacent disks for cleanin said faces.

3. In a multiple cutter isk bit, a bit stock, disks initially mounted sufiiciently loose to wobble on the stock while revolving and in spaced relation, each disk having a plane face and a convex face, and cleaning fingers on the stock, each finger extending into the space|between the plane face of one disk and the convex face of an adjacent disk.

4. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, cutter disks revolubly mounted on the stock, cleaning fingers depending from the stock between adjacent faces of adjacent disks, and fluid ducts extending through and discharging from said fingers.

5. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, wobbling and radially movable revoluble cutting disks carried by the stock, and projections on the stock having lateral, radial and circumferential wi ing actions on surfaces of the disks comp ementary to the rel ative motions between the projections and the disks in the movements of the latter.

6. In .a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock an axle carried by the stock and provided with bearing portions, and disks having hubs mounted to revolve on said bearing portions of the axle, said bearing ortions of the axle being transversely arche to adapt the disks to rock laterally thereon.

7 In a multi le cutter disk bit, a bit stock, an axle carried y the stock and having hearing portions, and disks having hubs provided with bores engaging said bearing portions of the axle, said bearing portions bein transversely curved and said bores of the disk hubs being of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the bearing surfaces, whereby the disks are adapted to rock laterally and move radially as they revolve on said bearing surfaces.

8. In a multiple cutter disk bit,abit stock, cheek plates carried by the bit stock, a tongue carried b the bit stock and disposed between the chee plates, axles carried by the check plates and tongues, cutter disks revolubly mounted on the axles, and clearing fingers extending from the bit stock into the spaces between the disks, the bit stock having fluid ducts extending there from and through said fingers.

9. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, cheek plates carried by the bit stock, a tongue carried by the bit stock and disposed between the cheek plates, axles supported by the cheek plates and tongue, cutter disks revolubly mounted on the axles, and clearing fingers extending from the stock into the spaces between the disks, the stock havin ducts extending throu h the tongue an clearing fingers and ischarging into the spaces between the disks.

10. In a multi le cutter disk bit, a bit stock' having a biihrcated or forked portion forming a socket, cheek plates carried by the stock. a tongue fitted at one end in said socket and disposed between the cheek plates, axles supported by the cheek plates and tongue, cutting disks revolubly mounted on said axle, fingers extending from the fork portions of the stock and extending into spaces between disks on opposite sides of the. tongue, the stock bein provided with sidewater channels exten ing therefrom to and through the fingers and a center water channel, and the tongue havin a water channel communicating with sai central water channel of the stock.

11. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, revoluble cutter disks carried by the stock, and cleaning fingers depending from the stock between the disks on each side of the center of the stock, the under surface of each finger being inclined and receding from its advance end.

12. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, revoluble cutters carried by the stock, and cleaning fingers depending from the stock between the disks on each side of the center of the stock, each finger having a liquid duct extending down therethrough and each duct having its lower end flared to the bottom of the fin er.

In testimon w ereof I aflix my signature.

' HARLES S. CRICKMER. 

